deprive
Deprive (verb) means to take something away from someone, or prevent them from having it. Example: “The long illness deprived her of the chance to travel that year.”
How to use deprive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop someone having or getting something they need or want.
Always followed by "of" — you deprive someone OF something, not "deprive someone something".
Word forms
deprived past tense, deprives singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The long illness _____ her of the chance to travel that year.
Etymology
From Old French depriver, from Medieval Latin deprivare, from Latin de- + privare, "to take away as one's own."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for deprive
See all rhymes for deprive →Frequently asked questions
What does “deprive” mean?
The word “deprive” means to take something away from someone, or prevent them from having it. In plain terms, to stop someone having or getting something they need or want.
How do you pronounce “deprive”?
“Deprive” is pronounced dih-PRYV (/dɪˈpɹaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “deprive” in a sentence?
Here is “deprive” used in a sentence: “The long illness deprived her of the chance to travel that year.”
What is another word for “deprive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “deprive” include bereave and impoverish.
What is the opposite of “deprive”?
The opposite of “deprive” — its antonyms — is enrich.
What part of speech is “deprive”?
“Deprive” is a verb.
Where does the word “deprive” come from?
The word “deprive” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French depriver, from Medieval Latin deprivare, from Latin de- + privare, "to take away as one's own.".
Is “deprive” a common word?
“Deprive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.